PrettyLittleThing names Alabama Barker as US brand ambassador

Image: PrettyLittleThing Fast fashion e-tailer PrettyLittleThing has named up-and-coming rapper, singer and beauty influencer Alabama Barker as its latest US brand ambassador. Barker, the daughter of legendary musician Travis Barker, has more than 1 million Instagram followers and will become the latest addition to PrettyLittleThing’s host of ambassadors, including actress Lala Anthony, Jayda Wayda and De’arra Taylor. Image: PrettyLittleThing Commenting on her new role with PrettyLittleThing, Barker said in a statement: “I am excited to be Pretty Little Thing's newest brand ambassador. I have been a long-time buyer and love how inclusive the brand is. I can’t wait for you guys to see my first shoot with the brand, launching very soon.” Barker’s first role as ambassador is fronting PrettyLittleThing’s ‘Y2K is Calling’ edit, featuring barely-there micro-mini skirts and dresses, oversized denim and separates in sugary shades that “channel that teen dream realness”. Image: PrettyLittleThing Image: PrettyLittleThing Image: PrettyLittleThing
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thredUp tackles fashion's waste problem during music festival season

thredUp The merry parade of young Hollywood in bucket hats, tie dye shirts and cowboy boots is upon us again but the dark side of summer music festivals extends beyond Kanye’s last minute cancellation as headliner at Coachella. The waste associated with the summer festival period is an environmental nightmare. Thrifting website thredUP conducted a study, the Festival Fashion survey, which found that an estimated 1 in 4 Americans plan to attend a music festival or concert this year. The season kicks off this weekend with Coachella. The study’s more worrying statistics reveal that 42 percent plan to buy a new festival outfit and nearly 1 in 3 say they buy festival outfits that they'll only wear once, and this includes 40 percent of Gen Z. The study relied on third-party retail analytics firm GlobalData and surveyed 2,000 American aged 18 and over in February 2022, asking questions about their shopping behaviors for music festivals and concerts.  thredUp.com Festival-goers 2022 will be particularly excited to be in the audience after two years of pandemic shutdown and the excitement of dressing up to enjoy their favorite musical acts cannot be overestimated. Harry Styles, Billie Eilish and The Weeknd will entertain those who decamp to Southern California’s Colorado desert for Coachella’s 2-weekend extravaganza, July’s 3-day Lollapalooza in Chicago boasts Doja Cat and Due Lipa, Austin City Limits Music Festival, which has yet to announce its line-up, extends across 2 weekends in October, and whether your vibe is bluegrass, jazz or country, there are dozens of events filling up the weekends in between. That packed calendar equals a haul of tossed, single-use clothing to weigh down our overburdened planet. Festival fashion is an ecological nightmare Music festivals already amass record amounts of waste year on year as attendees discard cigarettes, newspapers, wristbands, bottles, beer cans, toiletries, disposable cutlery, rain ponchos, sleeping bags, broken tents, and plastic sheeting for an army of litter pickers to sweep in the next morning and clean up. But less visible remains leech down into the soil and polymers from many of these items hang around in the environment for decades. The BBC estimates that the major US music festivals generate around 100 tons of solid waste every day. That's usually only considering what attendees eat, drink and sleep in and doesn't count what they wear which they will discard after returning home. thredUp.com So thredUp are targeting festival shoppers with their message to ditch disposability by thrifting. The e-commerce site has enlisted celebrity stylist and activist Karla Welch to launch thredUP x Karla Welch, a unique festival shopping experience that pairs thrifted pieces from the site with items from Welch’s celebrity styling. The idea is to inspire festival goers with the latest trends worn in exciting and innovative ways by embracing pre-used treasures over fast fashion grabs. Welch has styled 8 individual looks to take the consumer across multiple weekends and over 30 pieces within the selection are from Welch’s personal archive often sourced for celebrities with picks ranging from 14 dollars to 225 dollars. “Stylists are the arbiters of taste, dictating what’s cool on the red carpet, in street style, on social media, and beyond,” said Erin Wallace, VP of Integrated Marketing at thredUP. “We believe stylists have the power to redefine what’s fashionable, emphasizing circularity and reuse to combat the industry’s wastefulness." thredUp estimates that we would save 940M lbs of CO2E, the equivalent of taking 564M cars off the road for a day, if every festival shopper thrifted their outfits this year instead of buying new. The selection includes festival staples like novelty denim, floral shirts, leather jackets, and statement footwear. Said Welch, “Thrifting is one of the easiest ways to get a unique, eco-friendly festival look that’ll make you stand out from the crowd. Reusing all the amazing clothes already in existence is one of the best things we can do to reduce our fashion footprint.” Surely that’s music to any festival-goer’s ears.
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George at Asda establishes partnership with Netflix on licensed merch

Image: George at Asda Supermarket fashion label George at Asda has announced it will be collaborating with Netflix on merchandise collections available at select stores and via its online website. A total of 48 fashion and lifestyle products are included in the collaboration and consist of apparel, footwear, accessories, stationery and homeware, with themes centred around popular Netflix original shows such as Squid Game, Stranger Things and Emily in Paris. To launch the collaboration, 12 stores will be offering clothing and general merchandise while a further 38 will stock Netflix clothing and accessories, with more ranges set to release throughout the year. Additionally, at the retailer’s Milton Keynes store a ‘flagship’ concession will offer a broader range of experiences, including branded changing rooms and dedicated product areas. “We are extremely excited to have launched our partnership with Netflix,” said Scott Macra, senior buying manager at George, in a release. “We know that George is an important destination for customers looking to buy licensed product and Netflix has a broad range of properties that appeal to all the family.” Macra continued: “We feel this collaboration is a great fit for George, which allows us to continue to bring a range of product that is relevant and for all the family to enjoy.”
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Balenciaga to show in New York in May

Image: Balenciaga AW22 Balenciaga is to show its resort collection in New York City on 21 May. The Kering-owned fashion house follows Bottega Veneta, Thom Browne and Alexander McQueen who all showed in the U.S. recently. Balenciaga’s AW22 show during Paris Fashion Week, which saw models battling to walk through a blizzard carrying their belongings, was one of the most poignant presentations masterminded by Demna, the house’s Creative Director. The previous season saw Demna collaborate with Matt Groening, the founding artist behind The Simpsons. Expectations will be high for the Balenciaga show, especially as many European editors have not travelled to the U.S. since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. Balenciaga revenue reached 18 billion euros in 2021, an increase of 35 percent versus 2020 and 13 percent compared to 2019.
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Knix and Betsey Johnson collaborate on lingerie and nightwear collection

Image: Knix x Betsey Johnson Intimates label Knix has revealed a collaboration with Betsey Johnson consisting of a co-created collection inspired by the New York designer’s punk-like origins. A range of playful, iconic prints referencing Johnson’s typical design essence will be available in a nightgown, sleep set, three bra types and two underwear styles, including a leak proof version. “I’m nuts for Knix,” said Johnson, in a release. “I’ve never had so much fun collaborating with a design team who understands Betsey Johnson while being able to create pieces that I, myself, want to live in everyday.” She continued: “From the tiniest bikini brief, to comfy cozy PJ’s and sexy slip dresses - my Knix collection is a complete wardrobe. Wear it under, wear it over. Inside or outside. Simple as that, all you need is Betsey Johnson x Knix to have a little fun this season.” Accompanying the launch, Knix will be releasing an augmented reality (AR) feature for Instagram, allowing users to implement dedicated filters inspired by the collection into their posts. The collection launches April 12 and will be available through Knix’s official site.
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Tailoring brand TM Lewin bought out of administration

Image: TM Lewin, Facebook Formalwear brand TM Lewin has secured its second rescue deal in the span of two years, concluding a sale of the business and assets to TM Lewin Shirtmaker Limited, a company owned by its main lender Petra Group. Following a series of pandemic-induced struggles, the company was forced to call in administrators early March 2022. Its website subsequently shut down, displaying a message stating it was “undergoing maintenance”. The Petra Group reached an agreement with TM Lewin’s administrators Interpath Advisory to acquire the heritage brand. Potentially returning to the high street In a release, Will Wright, head of restructuring at Interpath Advisory and joint administrator of TM Lewin, said: “Following a great deal of interest, we’re pleased to have achieved this sale which secures the future of this famous British retail brand. “We understand the new owners will be relaunching the online trading platform over the coming weeks and, in the longer term, are considering the possibility of opening new high street stores. We wish them all the best for the future.” It marks the second time the formal menswear brand has had to be rescued from administration. In 2020, the label, which was founded over 120 years ago, was bought by SCP Private Equity after its first collapse. In response, the company closed a string of stores throughout the UK and made around 600 staff redundant at the time, as reported by The Guardian.
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NBA to open third European store in Paris

Image: NBA; Paris store The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Fanatics, a digital sports platform and global provider of licensed sports merchandise, have announced they are opening the first NBA store in Paris this summer. The store will be operated by retail giant Lids and located at 20 Boulevard Saint-Michel in Paris’s Latin Quarter and will mark the third NBA Store in Europe, joining London and Milan. Spanning more than 980 square feet, the store will feature an extensive range of official NBA and WNBA merchandise and memorabilia, including jerseys, apparel, headwear, sporting goods, toys and collectables from brands including Nike, Mitchell & Ness, New Era and Wilson. The store will also house exclusive NBA Paris-branded apparel and novelties and a customisation area where fans can personalise NBA jerseys and hats for all 30 NBA teams. Commenting on the opening, NBA Europe and the Middle East senior director, global partnerships, Steve Griffiths, said in a statement: “At the intersection of fashion and basketball culture, Paris has a unique tradition for the game and some of the most passionate NBA fans in Europe. Together with Fanatics and Lids, we look forward to welcoming fans from France and beyond to this exciting new and interactive space where they can celebrate their NBA fandom in style.” Lids Sports group president, Britten Maughan, added: “Lids is excited to bring the first NBA Store to Paris. Our location on Boulevard Saint-Michel will offer the widest assortment of NBA products in the country and will be a destination for both locals and tourists. “The NBA is an international brand and has proven to have a broad appeal globally. The new NBA Store in Paris will offer both fan apparel and trending fashion inspired by NBA culture in the US.” As part of the league’s partnership with Fanatics, additional international NBA Stores operated by Lids are scheduled to open this year, with locations to be announced at a later date. The NBA has more than 400 NBA-branded retail stores and attractions worldwide that serve as the league’s official destinations for fans around the world.
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Fashion segment fuels UK sales growth in March, footfall gradually improves

Image: Pixabay The fashion segment was the standout performer in the UK last month as consumers continued to splash out on new outfits post lockdown. Fashion total like-for-like sales increased by 87 percent last month from a base of 57.5 percent the same month a year earlier. It was the only category to record positive non-store like-for-like sales in March. Total like-for-like sales for the lifestyle segment also saw positive results, up 71.4 percent in March from a base of 14.7 percent for the equivalent month last year, while homeware like-for-like sales fell by 9.6 percent in March from a base of 112.6 percent in March 2021. Overall like-for-like sales increased by 60.9 percent in March from a base of 42.5 percent for the equivalent month last year, marking the thirteenth consecutive month of positive results. However, total non-store like-for-like sales fell for the fourth time in the last five months. BDO head of retail and wholesale Sophie Michael said in a statement: “Our results in March have highlighted that consumer spending remains high despite impending increases to the cost of living this month. However, there are also concerning signs that some of this spending is being supported by record levels of household borrowing, which has increased lately even as consumer confidence plummets. “There may be good reason to expect some pull-back in discretionary spending over coming months, though the impact will inevitably vary across different areas of retail.” Footfall improves in March The increase in sales came as the footfall continued to gradually improve last month. Total UK footfall improved by 5.4 percent in March compared to the prior month. However, footfall was still 15.4 percent below March 2019 levels. “March saw another gradual improvement to footfall levels across the UK,” said Helen Dickinson, the chief executive of British Retail Consortium. “As the first full month without coronavirus restrictions in England and Northern Ireland, consumers were able to shop with a greater sense of normality, spurred on by some spring sunshine.” Despite the improvement, Dickinson warned that there remain difficulties ahead. “There are many challenges on the horizon as consumer confidence fell to its lowest levels in 16 months. Consumers are now feeling the effects of rising living costs, increased food and fuel prices, and are also anticipating higher energy prices from 1 April,” she said. “The impact on retail footfall and retail sales across both stores and online is yet to be seen, but as belts continue to tighten and prices continue to rise, it will be a difficult road ahead for consumers.”
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Beyond Virgil, what equity in the luxury fashion industry looks like

LVMH.com The Fairchild Media Group hosted its Fashioning Equity Forum recently with a star studded international group of speakers and diversity advocates. During a panel entitled “Abloh and Beyond: What Black Leadership and Legacy Means for Fashion,” Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing, who is half-Ethiopian, half-Somalian, and was born in a French orphanage, remarked that he is back to being the only Black designer in a high profile position of a luxury house. Virgil Abloh had been artistic director of menswear at Louis Vuitton until his untimely death this past November. The 41-year-old designer will be the subject of an upcoming retrospective of his two-decade career at the Brooklyn Museum in July, "Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech." “People started to realize I was Black only 3 or 4 years ago but I’ve been at Balmain for more than 10 years,” said Rousteing. “For many of my crowd in fashion, it was a non-topic in that no one was giving me the chance to talk about it.” He described how he would fight for more diverse casting but the models were just not around a decade ago, and stylists and photographers refused his proposals because “I was not respecting French luxury.” Balmain.com He now refers to the concept of French fashion, a style based on whiteness that has been in place for centuries but which was solidified in the 70s and 80s, as a cliché. However for the early part of his career, especially becoming creative director of Balmain at age 25, it was used as a way of limiting his vision. He likens the old guard of high fashion to a monarchy: “There’s the Queen, the King, and the crowd.” Brandice Daniel, Chief Executive Officer & founder of Harlem's Fashion Row pointed out that historically Black creatives, such as designer Ann Lowe who created the wedding dress for Jacqueline Bouvier when she married John F Kennedy, were dismissed under the term “Black dressmakers.” Lack of credit and diminishment of talent have kept the ivory towers of luxury fashion out of reach for minority creatives. The only way to open the locked doors is to consider untraditional talent instead of hiring from the same high profile fashion programs, said Daniel, because untapped Black creatives with passion and talent aren’t within the student body. Abloh studied a Masters in architecture and a Bachelors in civil engineering, but was also a DJ and product designer as well as fashion visionary, while Rousteing dropped out of fashion school after five months. Yet both men rose to the top of the field. The ongoing challenges of access, mentorship and financing often prevent minorities from considering a career in the fashion industry and parents often cannot afford the high tuition fees associated with sending their children to the top design schools. Black designers flourish through community and social media With the demise of magazines and the associated whims of their powerful editors, creatives like Rousteing were poised to take the lead in the new digital era. In no time he assembled an enormous social media community of young people–-along with Beyonce, Bjork, Rihanna––who had no appetite for the established codes of the old guard. His vision was soon reaching hundreds of thousands of people rather than 600 invited to a fashion show. Under his direction Balmain was the first French label to pass the landmark one million followers on Instagram, yet Rousteing said that the company’s former president thought his social media presence was cheapening the value of the brand. “The difference today is there’s a collective we,” said Haitian American designer and 2017 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist Victor Glemaud who cast only Black models at his recent NYFW show. “In the 90s, there was one designer, one brand, now we as Black designers and entrepreneurs are many.” In 2020 Glemaud founded In The Blk a professional network to unify, build solidarity and economic independence for Black individuals in the global fashion industry. Abloh was one of the first to attach his name. Togetherness is a theme elaborated on by Rousteing who is the upcoming guest designer at Jean Paul Gaultier Couture. It is his dream that US designers and French houses could collaborate out of a sense of love and respect for each other. Traditionally European and American brands have been standoffish and competitive but if there ever was a designer to make this happen it would be Rousteing. He adds one last hope: “For the next generation I wish that I will not be the only Black designer in French luxury.”
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Fashion tech platform Bods secures 5.6 million dollar funding

Image: Bods Digital fashion technology company Bods has closed its seed round funding for 5.6 million dollars, which it has said will support the growth of its luxury partner portfolio, expand its team and fulfil technology patents. Launched through a beta version in 2021 and developed in partnership with luxury label Khaite, the platform offers users a digital styling and try-on experience. Using artificial intelligence (AI) and gaming technology, Bods allows customers to view a virtual representation of their body while shopping, on which they can try real-world clothing and style and customise outfits. “Sophisticated fashion technology doesn’t need to look or feel ‘techy,” said Christine Marzano, CEO and co-founder of Bods, in a press release. “With Bods, utility is delicately woven between layers of luxurious digital fabric. We are providing the customer with an incredibly useful solution [in-real-life], today and creating a bridge to fashion’s digital future and metaverse opportunities.” For the seed funding, which was led by Peter Boyce at Stellation Capital, a string of female investors led the round, including top model Karlie Kloss and co-founder of Rent the Runway Jenny Fleiss. In its release, the company said it plans to use the funding to make key hires across its product, engineering and design divisions, as well as continue advancing its product feature development. "We were excited about Bods technology because it provides clear value to retailers, consumers, and the planet,” said The WXR Fund, one of the investors. “Creating a Bods avatar could be many people's first step into the metaverse, and we are confident that the elegant, elevated user experience the Bods team has designed will leave users feeling delighted and wanting more."
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Digital receipts app Slip secures fresh funding ahead of summer launch

Slip, a retailer agnostic mobile app that allows customers to receive digital receipts using QR code technology, has raised 750,000 pounds in a pre-seed funding round. Investors in the round include Haatch Ventures, SyndicateRoom's Super Angel fund, as well as angel investors from Alma Angels. London-based Slip said it will use the proceeds to support all areas of product development ahead of the app’s official launch this summer. It will also be used for the continued growth of the business. Slip aims to eliminate physical, non-recyclable receipts by allowing users of its app to receive digital receipts via QR codes. Users can also view and manage their omnichannel spending and receive exclusive discount offers and personalised content based on their buying habits. Founded in 2021 by Tash Grossman and Eddy Herman, Slip is currently backed by big-name retailers including House of Fraser, Farfetch, John Lewis and Harrods. “We’re delighted to announce our 750,000 pounds pre-seed fundraise with support from well-respected names in the retail tech and start-up sectors,” Grossman said. She continued: “At Slip we’re committed to transforming the e-receipt landscape so that consumers can enjoy a more seamless and sustainable shopping experience and retailers can gain a wealth of insights which will in turn help with future planning.”
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Global demand for athleisure to grow to 550bn dollars by 2025

Image: Nike campaign The global athleisure market is set to grow by 25 percent to 551 billion collars by 2025, according to research by GlobalData. Sportswear is booming, as demand for comfort apparel continues to soar while two out of every five people are still working from home in some capacity. Globaldata research shows the popularity of sports fashion should reach 23.6 percent of the global market according to the group's analysts, who underline the crucial importance of new post-pandemic lifestyle and consumption habits. 55 percent of the Globaldata’s study said they are still wearing athleisure clothes for more than sport activities. Trainers and sweatshirts at the office Louise Deglise-Favre, Apparel Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “People have simply been able to get more wear out of athleisure clothing while working from home over the pandemic. Now, with hybrid working set to continue, people will still want to dress casually and work out on the days they are not in the office. As for in-office working, we expect that to become more casual too. Trainers at the office and the sweatshirt-under-a-blazer look will be more popular. All of this traction will help the sportswear market grow by an impressive 25.1 percent to 551 billion dollars between 2021 and 2025.” GlobalData's forecast exceeds figures previously published by McKinsey, which estimated the category to reach 400 billion dollars over the next three years. Deglise-Favre continues: “As hybrid working continues and brands embrace the casualization trend, consumers will continue to want more multifunctional, comfortable athleisure pieces that are appropriate for both wearing at home and in social settings. However, technical sportswear—clothing that presents performance characteristics that are used exclusively to practice a sport —will also be important as consumers continue to prioritize their health and fitness, and team sports are due to have their first full year without disruptions. The uptake in outdoor activities and cycling started by the pandemic is also expected to continue in 2022 and beyond, boosted by the representation of mountain activities in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.” The financial performances of the big names in sportswear testify to the growth of the sector. Nike closed its last quarter with revenues of 10.9 billion dollars, an increase of 5 percent, beating Wall Street expectations. Adidas, also scored a plus in the results of its last fiscal year, which closed at 23 billion dollars. Under Armor is also growing, which in its third quarter recorded an 8 percent increase in revenues to 1.5 billion dollars (about 1.3 billion euros) compared to the previous year. Article source: Globaldata
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L’Oréal UK and Ireland join launch of TikTokMadeMeBuyIt campaign

Image: L'Oréal x TikTok UK and Ireland Beauty giant L’Oréal UK and Ireland has announced it will be joining TikTok for the platform’s #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt e-commerce campaign. The partnership will allow UK consumers to purchase creator-endorsed product selection boxes through the TikTok app, with L’Oréal also being the first brand to use the campaign’s branding. The dedicated hashtag, which has garnered over 10 billion views alone, has been credited with generating a viral interest in L’Oréal products, as creators recommend their favourites to TikTok’s large-scale audience. L’Oréal-owned brands involved in the product boxes include Garnier, Maybelline, L’Oréal Paris, NYX Professional Make-Up and Essie. For the curation, the company has worked with a handful of creator partners who have each selected items for their own gift boxes, with each to be available through TikTok Shop UK. “Our partnership with TikTok enables us to continue to invent and reinvent the e-commerce experience,” said CMO of L’Oréal UK and Ireland, Lex Bradshaw-Zanger, in a release. Bradshaw-Zanger continued: ”Where much of e-commerce today has been a very functional experience, and driven by more rational shopper missions like replenishment, TikTokMadeMeBuyIt has brought the excitement of product discovery in partnership with creators to a full funnel online experience. Removing the friction of entertainment discovery and purchase into a single, smooth consumer journey.”
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Victoria’s Secret & Co. acquires minority stake in women-led Frankies Bikinis

Image: Frankies Bikinis Lingerie giant Victoria’s Secret & Co. has acquired a minority interest in women-founded beachwear brand Frankies Bikinis. The Califonian label, founded in 2012 by Francesca Aiello, is widely known for its Malibu aesthetic, translating the laid back vibe of the beachy region into its apparel and identity. In a release, Victoria’s Secret CEO, Martin Waters, said: “We are excited to be partnering with Francesca and the team at Frankies Bikinis. She has created an aspirational beachwear brand and trend leader in the swimwear category, with room to grow and extend into new categories and attract new customers in the direct-to-consumer channel.” The company has invested 18 million dollars, which it has said should not have a material impact on its previously communicated first quarter 2022 outlook. On its motivation for the acquisition, Waters commented: “Our investment in Frankies Bikinis is a continuation of our efforts to expand partnerships with culturally relevant brands founded by women entrepreneurs.” It is this mission that the company has continued to embed into its strategy, with its most recent initiative also centred around bolstering women-led brands through a string of investments.
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Podcast: Conversation with Schanel Bakkouche, Retaining Exclusivity via Social Media

Joshua Williams In this episode, “Retaining Exclusivity via Social Media,” the final episode of a three-part series featuring Schanel Bakkouche, editor and stylist at Vogue International Publications and founder and creative director at the advertising agency, SFB Creative, we further discuss the strategies luxury fashion brands employ to engage current customers and to attract a new clientele. And stay tuned after this episode for a special add-on—to hear Schanel’s thoughts on brand collaborations.
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